Source: The Brownsville Herald
January 29, 2017
By STEVE CLARK and FRANK GARZA
Free tax-return preparation is available through April 18 for families with household incomes less than $54,000.
Help is available at 16 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites in CameronCounty, collectively dubbed the Cameron County Economic Opportunities Coalition and led by the United Way of Southern Cameron County. Last year, the program helped more than 4,300 families claim more than $4.2 million in Earned Income Tax Credits.
The VITA program also is working in partnership with TexasSouthmostCollege.
“Aside from their (students) training in school, they have to be certified to do this. They are trained to help the taxpayers take advantage of tax credits, such as earned income tax credit,” said Edgar Chrnko, TSC director of marketing and community relations.
Depending on the VITA site, walk-ins are welcome or appointments have to be made in advance. The site with the largest number of tax-preparation volunteers is the TexasSouthmostCollegeITECCenter at 301 Mexico Blvd., where appointments are necessary and can be made by calling (956) 295-3761.
A full list of all 16 VITA sites and other details can be found at www.unitedwayrgv.org/volunteer-income-tax-assistance-sites-2017. Residents also may dial 2-1-1, enter a zip code and find the nearest site.
Keren Arista, United Way financial stability coordinator, said the program makes an effort each year to train more volunteers and expand into underserved parts of the county.
“We’re always trying to bring on new sites, so we’re really excited to have brought on the San BenitoSchool District this year,” Arista said. “They haven’t had a VITA site in five or six years.”
Besides San Benito, this year’s VITA sites include nine in Brownsville, two in Harlingen and one each in La Feria, Los Fresnos and Port Isabel. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Brownsville campus is hosting an appointment-only VITA site for foreign students. Call (956) 882-5816 to make an appointment.
Families with household incomes less than $64,000 can file their own taxes online free with www.MyFreeTaxes.com. VITA volunteers will be on hand at the UTRGV Brownsville campus from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, Feb. 1 through March 3, to teach UTRGV students and their families how to use MyFreeTaxes.
Arista said that in order to receive VITA assistance or use MyFreeTaxes it’s essential to bring along proper documentation, including valid photo ID for taxpayer and spouse; a copy of last year’s tax return if available; and original Social Security cards, Social Security number verification letters or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) letters for taxpayer, spouse and any children born before Jan. 1, 1987.
Filers also must bring with them W-2 forms from all jobs worked in 2016; all 1099 forms showing other income received in 2016; gambling winnings, prizes, awards and scholarships; and total income of anyone who will be claimed as a dependent (including W-2 forms, if received); and bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of refunds.
It’s also important to bring the right health insurance documentation, including Form 1095-A for anyone listed on the return who bought insurance though the Health Insurance Marketplace; or forms 1095-B or 1095-C for anyone on the return who received insurance through another source. If no form was received, the filer should bring a list of everyone on the return with health insurance coverage in 2016 and which months they were covered.
Also bring any of the following that apply: college tuition and student loan interest statements (Form 1098-T and online student bill); child care expenses, including the provider’s address and federal tax ID number; adoption expenses, alimony paid or received; and mortgage statements, property taxes paid or student loan interest paid.
Arista said there’s a great need for VITA services in CameronCounty. Tax time produces anxiety for families and tax returns are expensive to get prepared — $250 per return on average but sometimes higher.
“It’s a significant bite out of your household income,” Arista said.
She said VITA volunteers prepared just more than 4,000 returns last year in CameronCounty, which, assuming $250 per return, equals more than $1 million in tax-preparation fees.
Arista said the county had 290 volunteers last year, though it’s too early for a complete count this year. More volunteers give the program a broader reach, she said.
“The more volunteers we have sitting at the table, the more tax returns we can do,” Arista said. “We’re limited by volunteers. The volunteer training starts in the fall.”
The program is a win-win for residents and students. Students get hands-on experience helping the community and in turn, residents receive a preferable alternative, Chrnko said.
“It can get pretty expensive if you go and have your taxes prepared, but going through the VITA program, you can save that money,” Chrnko said. “The VITA program saves CameronCounty residents about a million dollars every year in tax preparation expenses.”
Anyone interested in being a VITA volunteer next year should inquire at taxproject@unitedwayrgv.org.